Living Gospel Equality Now: Loving in the Heart of God: Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

People's Catholic Seminary and Holy Orders by Kathie Ryan, ARCWP

The People’s Catholic Seminary is
currently offering a course on sacraments (http://pcseminary.blogspot.com). In our discussion on Holy Orders, Kathie
Ryan, ARCWP wrote the following:

This assignment on Ordination
brought up the question, once again, why be ordained? During my discerning
process the "why?" kept creeping into my meditations. After
some time passed I realized asking "why" was not relevant. The
question became will I accept "the call?"

We have learned that the
definition of ordination began to change with the Gregorian reforms of the 12th
century. I looked up a little more history of the time and was reminded
of the power struggle between the Papacy and the Holy Roman Empire. The
Vatican was a strong temporal power. Bishops and Priests were married,
owned property and wanted their children to inherit the land. Historically we
know what happened the Pope, Bishops, and Priests, raised themselves to a level
of importance that lead to very specific roles and power.

In the Busted Halo video the moderator reminds us that "all
Catholics are priest but the sacramental priesthood stands in for the person of
Christ himself." This concept developed in the 12th century and continues
today. Catholic traditionalist use the developing definition of the 12th
century to cite the reasons priests can not be married, and why we can not have
women priests.

The definition of ordination
prior to the 12th century was inclusive and focused on service. A person, man
or woman, was ordained for a particular function in a specific community
(Martos 248). They were designated and consecrated to serve the community as
well as serve at liturgy. Ordination was about sacred order not priestly
power.

All of us are indeed ordained
priests. Priest who are servant leaders. There is "real
presence" not in the process of changing bread and wine to the body and
blood but in the sharing of that bread and wine with each other. Real
Presence is in me and you as we live as servants for one another in community.
We all "stand in for the person of Christ" when we love one another.

1 comment:

Thanks so much for this short and clear reflection. POWER does seem to be what messes with all humans on many levels - our work, the playground, the organizations into which we gather. Thinking 12th century.... yes, a lot was going on then. As I reread each year Virgilio Elizondo's wonderful book about the bigness of Our Lady of Guadalupe's story - coming soon in our calendar - I see the play of POWER big time. The bishop wept when he realized not only that he had doubted the appearance but for the way he had not received warmly the dignified Nahuatl man whom Mary had chosen for her message. May we all keep in mind the true power God endows us with - the power to love fully. Thanks again.